Gunner’s mitts, or trigger mitts, are traditionally knitted and working in Newfoundland. I love them because the colour work makes them very thick, and the separated finger makes them extremely versatile. On top of that, there are so many designs available.
I bought my first pair on my first trip to Newfoundland, over 20 years ago. I lost one of the mitts years ago, but hung onto the other hoping I would figure out how to replicate the pattern. Eventually I found a book that had a pattern (Favourite Mittens, by Robin Hansen).
It didn’t have the exact pattern of my mitt, but I did make several pairs using other designs it offered. Finally, over a year ago, I lost the first pair I made and decided I needed a new back-up pair. It was time to see whether I could replicate that design.
It didn’t work out quite as beautifully as I had hoped, since the number of stitches in the original was more than my pattern used, and I knew my pattern fit my hand really well. I managed to hide most of the odd bits in the palm so they are less visible.
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